Conference hydra::dejavu

1818.0. "Unveiling Baba Magic." by SNOC02::KYRIACOUC () Mon Mar 15 1993 02:29

		DD Tape Unveils Baba `Magic'
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				by Venu K. Kodimela

	'Hyderabad, Nov. 22: Hyderabad Doordarshan Kendra has a piece of
	dynamite tucked away in its lockers. The explosive material is in the 
	form of a video tape of the August 29 function to inaugurate the
	Sri Satya Mandapam and all efforts are being made at the highest
	levels of the Kendra to destroy every shred of evidence that such
	a tape ever existed.

	The drama started pretty tamely on August 29 last year when the
	biggest kalyana mandapam and only air-conditioned one in the
	twin cities, estimated cost: Rs 4 crore, was to be inaugurated
	by the Prime Minister, Mr PV N. Rao, Sri Satya Sai Baba was present
	at the function.

	While the presence of the Prime Minister itself makes it a big 
	events there were also other VVIP's - the Lok Sabha Speaker,
	Mr Shivraj Patil, the Home Minister Mr S.B. Chavan, the then
	Law Minister, Mr K. Vijayabhaskara Reddy (now Chief Minister of
	AP), the Agriculture Minister, Mr Balram Jakhar, then Karnataka
	Chief Minister Mr S. Bangarappa, then Rajasthan Governor 
	DR MC Reddy, besides the Govenor Mr Krishan Kant, and the 
	then Chief Minister Mr N Janardhan Reddy - in attendance.

	To cover such a massive function DD deputed about four camera
	teams to cover it. According to sources, the full strength of
	DD was present at the function, including the top officials of
	the Kendra to ensure good coverage.
	
	Apart from the DD staff, half-a-dozen independent videographers 
	were to cover the function. Pressman and photographers were also
	present in good numbers. This was to be a special event for the
	camerman because they are not, in the normal course of 
	events, allowed to cover such functions where Baba puts in an
	appearance. This time, however, the presence of the VVIP's appeared
	to justify the presence of camermen, especially from DD

	During the function the Baba presented a memento and then, all
	of a sudden, 'produced' a gold chain for Mr R. Chakrapani,
	the architect of the mandapam. About the gold chain the media
	reported that 'with a swirl of the hand, (the Baba) pulled
	out a gold chain from 'thin air' and presented it to the
	architect. Earlier, the saffron-robbed Baba had presented a
	moments to Mr A Ramakrishna, the Chief Minister of the
	ECC group of L&T Limited who supervised the construction of the
	mandapam. The 'materializing' of the gold chain was a 'miracle'
	for the Babas followers.

	However alert videographers, both from DD teams and independent
	producers, captured the 'materialization' of the gold chain from
	a radically different angle. Though this was talked about among 
	reporters and camermen at the function, hard evidence came up later.

	That afternoon at the DD studios in Ramanthapur, the staff were putting
	together sequences from the various camera teams for the local news
	bulletin and for a news capsule to be telecast on the national
	network from Delhi. At this point the staff at the editing table saw
	what had happened - and what had been recorded on tape - 

	Before Baba produced the gold chain a source tape showed 
	'the faithful personal assistant of the Baba, while handling 
	over the moments to him, was hesitating initially and then slowly
	passed on the chain into the hands of the Baba. Then just after
	presenting the moments to the architect, the Baba quickly passed it 
	into his right hand and closed his fist.

	In the succeeding frames DD officials saw the Baba raising his fist
	and waving it in the air. Then the tape showed the Baba opening 
	his fist and there lay the gold chain- produced from thin air.
	The visuals left the men at the editing table dumbfounded and
	the matter was immediately communicated to the Kendra higherups.
	If it was not noticed by DD in time, it would have been telecast
	as the capsule of Prime Ministerial visit which was to be sent 
	to Delhi.

	The top brass panicked on seeing the graphic images being played 
	out on the video monitors. Then according to highly reliable 
	sources in the Kendra the Director of Hyderabad Doordarshan,
	Mr Appa Rao, personally directed that all copies of the tape be
	destroyed. A master tape however is believed to have been sealed off
	and stored in the archives of DD. The sources believe that too
	would be destroyed in the course of time.

	While DD went to great lengths to ensure that no word of the
	tape's existence would ever go beyond the production room, things
	were moving fast. A team of independent television producers,
	Panmedia, also secured a copy of the tape (the function was covered
	both by DD and by independent videographers) Simultaneously copies
	of the tape showing the gold chain 'miracle' began doing the rounds
	in the twin cities. At a conservative estimate there are at least
	50 cassettes of the function and the miracle being circulated
	in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

	It is learnt that DD staffers were disappointed by the actions of the
	Director. Some of the staffers even expressed their opinions on
	the DD station's compound walls. It is just like poking one's'
	eyes with one's own finger, remarked a disgusted staffer referring
	to DD's action. 

		The Chronicle of India.
    

    .....I suppose this means that Santa Claus is out of the question?
    
    Mark

re -1

	         SANTA'S ALIBI

                I'm writing this letter to tell you
                That import restrictions today
                Have robbed me of all my equipment
                My workshop, my reindeer, my sleigh

                I'm making my rounds on a donkey
                He's old, he's weak and he's slow
                So you'll know if I miss you at Christmas
                I'll be out on my ass in the snow

                Anon